LOC387715/HTRA1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration: A HuGE review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE
To examine the association of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with HtrA serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) gene rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and LOC387715/ ARMS2 gene rs10490924 G→T polymorphisms, and to evaluate the magnitude of the gene effect and the possible genetic mode of action.


METHODS
We searched the US National Library of Medicine's PubMed, Embase, OMIM, ISI Web of Science, and CNKI databases in a systematic manner to retrieve all genetic association studies on the HTRA1 (rs11200638) and LOC387715/ ARMS2 (rs10490924) gene polymorphisms and AMD. We performed a meta-analysis conducted with Stata software, version 9.0.


RESULTS
Individuals who carried the AA and AG genotypes of HTRA1 gene rs11200638 G→A polymorphism had 2.243 and 8.669 times the risk of developing AMD, respectively, when compared with those who carry the GG genotype. Individuals carrying the TT and TG genotypes of LOC387715/ ARMS2 gene rs10490924 G→T polymorphism had 7.512 and 2.353 times the risk of developing AMD, respectively, compared with those who carry GG genotype. These results suggested a "moderate" codominant, multiplicative genetic mode; that is, both HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism play important roles in the pathogenesis of AMD. We found no evidence of publication bias. Between-study heterogeneity was found in both allele-based analysis and genotype-based analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism play important roles in AMD. Gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions, as well as precise mechanisms underlying common variants in the HTRA1 gene and LOC387715/ ARMS2 gene, potentially increase the risk of AMD and need further exploration.

loci on chromosome 1q by several study groups [66][67][68] indicates that this locus probably harbors a major AMDassociated gene. Recently, the component factor H (CFH) gene on chromosome 1q31 has been revealed as the first major AMD-susceptibility gene, perhaps accounting for about 30%-50% of AMD patients. The CFH Y402H variant in the CFH gene has also been identified as a causal polymorphism in studies of populations other than those of European and North American origin [30,[69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78], and a follow-up meta-analysis [79] has confirmed this association in Western populations. Studies in Japan, however, did not show any associations between CFH Y402H polymorphism and AMD [80,81], suggesting that there must be some other loci susceptible for AMD. Several studies have showed that a locus at chromosome 10q26 [82][83][84] of CFH may independently contribute to AMD susceptibility [65,76,[82][83][84]. Three genes identified at chromosome 10q26 and associated with the risk of AMD are Pleckstrin Homology Domain-containing Protein Family A member 1, age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (LOC387715/age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 [ARMS2]), and high-temperature requirement factor A1 (HTRA1/PRSS11) [65,76,[82][83][84]. Thus, AMD appears to be a product of the interaction between multiple loci of susceptibility rather than a collection of single-gene disorders. However, the number of loci involved, the degree of attributable risk conferred, and the interactions between various loci remain obscure.
The HTRA1 gene spans a 53,366-base region on chromosome 10q26 (124211047-124264413, Gene ID: 5654); it encodes a member of a family of serine proteases expressed in both mouse and human retinas [85,86], and its expression in human fibroblasts increases with aging [87]. HTRA1 appears to regulate the degradation of extracellular matrix proteoglycans. This activity has been considered to facilitate access of other degradative matrix enzymes, such as collagenases and matrix metalloproteinases, to their substrates [88]. Overexpression of HTRA1 alters the integrity of Bruch's membrane, favoring the invasion of choroid capillaries across the extracellular matrix, as occurs in wet AMD. HTRA1 also binds and inhibits transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), an important regulator of extracellular matrix deposition and angiogenesis [89]. During the years 2006 to 2008, several studies were conducted to investigate the association between HTRA1 gene polymorphisms and AMD. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs11200638) in the promoter region of the HTRA1 gene was found to be significantly associated with susceptibility to AMD in studies of Caucasian populations in the US [90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97], Central Europe [98], France [99], and the UK [100]; of East Asian populations in China [101][102][103][104] and Japan [105][106][107]; and of Indian populations in India [108]. Another putative AMDsusceptibility gene, LOC387715/ARMS2, has recently been identified. LOC387715/ARMS2 encodes a deduced 107amino acid protein with nine predicted phosphorylation sites and a molecular mass of 12 kDa. Real-time (RT)-PCR analysis demonstrated that LOC387715/ARMS2 transcripts were expressed in the retina and in a variety of other tissues and cell lines. Transfection experiments in mammalian cells localized the protein to the mitochondrial outer membrane [95]. Up to now, the biologic characterization of this gene has been limited. However, Rivera et al. [109] concluded that the A69S single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs10490924) in exon 1 of the LOC387715/ARMS2 gene was the most likely susceptibility allele of AMD. Since an individual study may not have sufficient statistical robustness to confirm the association between HTRA1 and LOC387715/ARMS2 gene polymorphisms and AMD, we considered that a meta-analysis that combined data from all published studies would provide a more accurate estimate of the extent of association, leading to less risk of false-positive results [110]. Thus, we systematically pooled the results of all available populationbased association studies of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism, and AMD. We attempted to estimate the strength of the genetic association with AMD, as well as the genetic mode of action, and to gauge the extent of heterogeneity in the strength of the associations among different studies. on the source of controls (general population, clinic, or hospital). For those studies where AMD was graded (e.g., drusen, pigment abnormalities in retinal pigment epithelium [RPE], geographic atrophy, and choroidal neovascularization [CNV]), the gradings were combined into a single AMD group. Data extraction: Data were extracted independently by two investigators (B.Z. and J.Y.), who used recommended guidelines to report on meta-analyses of observational studies [111]. The following data were extracted from the eligible studies: authors, journal title and year of publication, country of origin, selection and characteristics of cases and controls, demographic data, ethnicity of the study population (e.g., Caucasian or East Asian), numbers of eligible and genotyped cases and controls, and genotype distributions in cases, controls, and available subgroups. Furthermore, we examined whether matching had been used; whether there was specific mention of blinding of the genotyping personnel to the clinical status of subjects; whether the genotyping method used had been validated; and whether genotype frequencies in control groups conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Any disagreement was adjudicated by a third author (R.L.). Statistical analysis: We used the odds ratio as the metric of choice and this was estimated for each study. To explore the possible association between HTRA1 and LOC387715/ ARMS2 polymorphisms and AMD, and to avoid excessive comparisons, we calculated the odds ratio by two methods: allele comparison (the A allele versus the G allele in the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism), and comparing the risk-variant homozygotes and heterozygotes with wild homozygotes (i.e., AA versus GG [OR1] and AG versus GG [OR2] in the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism). We estimated and characterized the prevalence of the risk allele with only the data from controls. When we analyzed genotype data in the meta-analysis, zero cell counts were assigned a fixed value (typically 0.5). In addition, we calculated the population attributable risk (PAR) of the risk allele according to the Chang et al. [112] method.
We first compared the alleles for cases and controls to detect overall differences and genetic association. Allele frequencies were computed for studies reporting only genotypic data. Pooled odds ratios were computed two times: by the fixed effects model of Mantel and Haenszel [113], and by the random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird [114]. Random effects incorporated an estimate of betweenstudy variance and provided wider confidence intervals when the results of the constituent studies differed. The random effects model was more appropriate when heterogeneity was present [115]. Unless otherwise stated, the random effects estimates reported here were calculated by the DerSimonian and Laird model.
Our primary genetic analysis of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G-to -T polymorphism, and AMD was based on the comparisons between risk-variant homozygotes and heterozygotes versus wild homozygotes so that the strength of the genetic association and the genetic mode of action could be identified exactly. Once an overall gene effect was confirmed, the genotype effects and genetic model were estimated by using the genetic model-free approach suggested by Minelli et al. [116], in which no assumptions about genetic models are required. A multivariate meta-analysis employing the Bayesian method [116] was used to calculate OR1 and OR2. The logarithm (log) odds ratios were modeled on the basis of both between-and within-study variations. A stochastic parameter lambda (λ), equal to the ratio of log OR2 and log OR1, was also computed [115]. The parameter λ suggested the genetic mode of action; specifically, the model is a recessive model if λ=0, a codominant model if λ=0.5, a dominant model if λ=1, and homozygous or heterosis model if λ<0 or λ>1.
We examined the deviations from the HWE in control populations for each study by using the exact method [117]. For all the analyses, we compared results between inclusion and exclusion of studies in Hardy-Weinberg (HW) disequilibrium. In addition, all studies were included regardless of HWE and provided a revision of the degree of HW disequilibrium by using the inbreeding coefficient (F) suggested by Trikalinos et al. [118]. In brief, data in the control group were used to assess the F value for each study. Predicted genotype frequencies were estimated and then used to replace the observed frequencies in the summary analysis of magnitude and the genetic model.
In sensitivity analysis, we estimated between-study heterogeneity across all eligible comparisons using Cochran's Q statistic [115]. We also reported the I 2 statistic, which describes the percentage of variability in point estimates due to sample heterogeneity rather than sampling error [119,120], and can quantify heterogeneity irrespective of the number of studies [120,121]. I 2 values larger than 75% were considered to represent a "notable" heterogeneity [120,121]. Publication bias among studies was assessed by funnel plots [122] and cumulative meta-analysis [123]. In the analysis of subgroups, we estimated odds ratios according to racial descent (Caucasians versus East Asians) and AMD type (wet AMD and other subtype or combined AMD).
All analyses were conducted with Stata software, version 9.0 (StataCorp, 2005) [124], using the meta, metan, metabias, metacum, and metareg commands, except the Bayesian method of genotype-based analysis. We fitted the Bayesian models by using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods with a Bayesian framework and performed our inferences using WinBUGS 1.4.3 (Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary's, London 2003) [125], taking advantage of its flexibility as well as its ability to incorporate full uncertainty across all unknown parameters. Bayesian analyses yielded credible intervals rather than confidence intervals; a 95% credible interval (CrI) describes a range in which it is probable that an unknown quantity lies within this interval. A "burnin" of 10,000 iterations is performed for models, followed by 50,000 iterations for parameter estimates. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Detailed characteristics of the 13 included studies on the association between HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and AMD are presented in Table 1. Among them, six studies related to Caucasian subjects, six to East Asians, and one to Indians. The average age of subjects ranged from 64.0 years to 81.2 years for cases and from 64.0 years to 77.4 years for controls. Characteristics of the 13 included studies on the association between LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism and AMD are presented in Table 2. Among them, 14 studies related to Caucasians, three to East Asians, and one to Indians. The average age ranged from 60 to 79 years for cases and from 60 to 77 years for controls. All of the eligible studies had case-control designs. Cases in the studies were recruited from hospital patients and controls were mainly healthy populations recruited from the hospital or community and unrelated to cases. All of the 13 studies were included to evaluate the association between the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and AMD [95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106]108]. As shown in Figure   1A, individuals with the A allele experienced a 2.80-fold increased risk of AMD when compared to individuals with the G allele (random effect OR=2.910, 95% CI: 2.552, 3.318; Q=25.769, p=0.012, I 2 =53.4%). The magnitude of the effect was similar for Asians (random effect OR=2.841, 95% CI: 2.482, 3.252) and Caucasians (random effect OR=2.981, 95% CI: 2.357, 3.370). However, there was significantly greater between-study heterogeneity among Caucasians (Q=20.128, p=0.001, I 2 =75.2%) than Asians (Q=5.636, p=0.465, I 2 =0.0%). Excluding and adjusting two studies [96,97] with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium did not change the results (data not shown). After appropriately carrying out a set of prespecified subgroups [97], a low level of between-study heterogeneity was found (random effect OR=3.043, 95% CI: 2.725, 3.397; Q=14.318, p=0.216, I 2 =23.2%). We did not find any evidence of publication bias in the eligible studies (corrected Begg's test z=0.43, corrected p=0.669). Figure 2 shows the cumulative meta-analysis results; they remained significant and were consistent over time.
The association between the LOC387715/ ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism and AMD was also evaluated. As shown in Figure 1B, individuals with the T allele had a 2.734 fold increased risk of AMD when compared to individuals with the G allele (random effect OR=2.734, 95% CI: 2.366, 3.158; Q=80.195, p=0.000, I 2 =78.8%). The magnitude of the effect was similar between Asians (random effect OR=2.692, 95% CI: 2.086, 3.315) and Caucasians (random effect OR=2.794, 95% CI: 2.333, 3.346). There was also a significant difference between-study heterogeneity among Caucasians (Q=73.265, p=0.000, I 2 =83.6%) as opposed to Asians (Q=0.481, p=0.786, I 2 =0.0%). Figure 3 shows the cumulative meta-analysis results; they remained significant and were consistent over time.
Genotype comparison: The genotype frequency of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism between case and control groups is presented in Table 3. The genotype effects for AA versus GG (OR1) and AG versus GG (OR2) were calculated for each study. The genotype frequency of the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism between the case and control groups is presented in Table 4. The genotype effects for TT versus GG (OR1) and TG versus GG (OR2) were calculated for each study.
In our primary analysis, multivariate meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled risk and there was a significantly increased risk of AMD among individuals with both homozygous variant AA genotype (Bayesian random effect OR1=8.469, 95% CrI: 6.766, 10.710) and heterozygous variant AG genotype (Bayesian random effect OR2=2.243, 95% CrI: 1.969, 2.559) of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism. A moderate level of between-study heterogeneity (Q=19.201, p=0.084, I 2 =37.5%) was found for the homozygous AA genotype and no between-study heterogeneity (Q=13.951, p=0.304, I 2 =14.0%) was found for For the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, stratification by ethnicity indicated a considerable variation in Figure 2. Cumulative random-effects meta-analysis of allele (A versus G) of the HTRA1 gene rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and age related macular degeneration (AMD). For study details, see Table 3. Figure 3. Cumulative random-effects meta-analysis of allele (G versus T) of the LOC387715/ ARMS2 gene rs10490924 G→T polymorphism and age related macular degeneration (AMD). For study details, see Table 4. Results of metaregression analysis indicated that classification of AMD (wet AMD versus combined AMD) was significantly associated with log OR2 (metaregression beta coefficient=-0.325, p=0.016). We performed stratification analysis on wet AMD and the combined AMD of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, and found a considerable difference in effects between wet AMD (Bayesian random effect OR1=10. 110 .0%) for combined AMD, and found a moderate degree of between-study heterogeneity for OR1 (Q=13.978, p=0.030, I 2 =57.1%) and non-significant between-study heterogeneity for OR2 (Q=7.309, p=0.293, I 2 =17.9%) of the wet AMD (Table 5).
We also performed stratification analysis on the wet AMD and combined AMD of the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism, and found a considerable difference in effect between wet AMD (Bayesian random effect OR1=8.567, 95% CrI: 5 .0%) for combined AMD, and found a moderate degree of between-study heterogeneity for OR1 (Q=14.147, p=0.049, I 2 =51.6%) and non-significant between-study heterogeneity for OR2 (Q=7.311, p=0.397, I 2 =4.3%) of the wet AMD (Table 5).
There was no evidence of small study bias or publication bias for the two comparisons. For the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, funnel plots for the comparisons made for the AA homozygotes and AG heterozygotes gave corrected p=0.077 (corrected Begg's z=1. 77) and corrected p=0.669 (corrected Begg's z=0. 43), respectively. Figure 4 shows the cumulative result of meta-analysis of the AA homozygotes and AG heterozygotes; they remained significant and stayed relatively unchanged after the third study ( Figure 4A,B). Figure 5 shows the cumulative result of meta-analysis of the TT homozygotes and TG heterozygotes of LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 with G→T polymorphism; they remained significant and relatively unchanged after the third study.

DISCUSSION
To our knowledge, this is the first general overview of the association between the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism, and susceptibility to AMD. The results of our meta-analysis suggest a strong association and a moderate codominant genetic mode of action. Our primary analysis shows that, for the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, the AA homozygotes carry an 8.5 fold increased risk of AMD, and the AG heterozygous variants carry just a 2.5 fold increase in risk when compared with GG homozygotes; for the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism, the TT homozygotes carry a 7.5 fold increased risk of AMD, and the TG heterozygous variants carry just a 2.4 fold increase in risk when compared with the GG homozygotes. In addition, our allele-based analysis suggests a nearly 3.0-fold increase in susceptibility to AMD among persons with the A allele of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and the T allele of the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism.
Our findings were based on several gene-association studies, which include several thousand participants and were robust in terms of all the planned and performed sensitivity analyses. We found no evidence of publication bias or small study bias by funnel plots and cumulative meta-analysis; moreover, "moderate," "moderate," and "low" degrees of between-study heterogeneity were found in alleles (A versus G), homozygotes (AA versus GG), and heterozygotes (AG versus GG) of the association between the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and AMD. When HWE was examined, 11 of the 13 studies showed no deviation and two showed some deviation. The removal of the two HW disequilibrium studies meant that our overall results were also  robust; statistical adjustment for the deviations were similar and consistent with the incipient results. The point estimate values were closer to a codominant model after removal of the HW disequilibrium studies and statistical adjustment for the deviation; this suggested a multiplicative genetic mode of action that needs to be verified by more studies, particularly large-scale, long-term longitudinal studies. Moderate between-study heterogeneity was also found in the alleles (T versus G), homozygotes (TT versus GG), and heterozygotes (TG versus GG) of the association between the LOC387715/ ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism and AMD.
However, the data we collected in this systematic review can only support a moderate codominant genetic model with a tight confidence interval.
The HTRA1 gene encodes a member of the trypsin family of serine proteases [133]. The precise pathomechanism by which the HTRA1 rs11200638 A risk allele affects susceptibility to AMD is still unclear [134,135]. The upregulation of HTRA1 plays a detrimental role in arthritic disease through its capacity to degrade extracellular matrices (ECMs) directly and to upregulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase, which results in ECM degradation [88].  Table 3.
Yang et al. [90] hypothesized that the most likely mechanism in the involvement of rs11200638 with AMD may be the enhancement of ECM degradation [90]. As shown in the model of laser-induced CNV [136], the destruction of the Bruch membrane leads to CNV development [90]. Although the function of HTRA1 in ocular tissues is unclear, it is reasonable to speculate that CNV may develop when the Bruch membrane is exposed to the detrimental effects of HTRA1. In vitro, higher luciferase expressions have been reported in both ARPE19 and HeLaS3 cells transfected with the HTRA1 rs1120638 risk homozygote (AA) genotype when compared to the wild-type (GG) [101]. It has been suggested that the presence of the HTRA1 rs11200638 A risk allele may alter the affinity of transcription factors, including the adaptor-related protein complex 2 alpha and serum response factor to the HTRA1 promoter [101]. Another potential mechanism by which the HTRA1 rs11200638 A allele may increase AMD risk is its ability to bind to TGF-β family members and to inhibit signaling of TGF-β family proteins, such as bone morphogenetic protein 2 and bone Figure 5. Cumulative random-effects meta-analysis of homozygous (A: TT versus GG) and heterozygous (B: GT versus GG) genotypes of LOC387715/ ARMS2 gene rs10490924 G→T polymorphism and age related macular degeneration (AMD). For study details, see Table 4. morphogenetic protein 4), which have previously been reported to act as negative growth regulators in RPE [89,137].
Although an association between the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and AMD was found, Kanda and others [95] considered that the rs11200638 G→A polymorphism of the HTRA1 gene did not make a major contribution to regulation of the HTRA1 gene and there is no association between HTRA1 G→A polymorphism and AMD. To verify these conclusions, they generated mammalian expression constructs carrying three different lengths of the normal HTRA1 promoter (WT-long, -medium, and -short) and the mutant sequence carrying the AMD-risk allele at the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11200638 (SNPlong and -medium), and these constructs were transfected into human embryonic kidney293 (HEK293), human-derived retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE19), and Human retinoblastoma (Y79) cells. As a result, they found that WT and variant SNPs of the HTRA1 promoter activities did not show significant differences in the luciferase reporter expression, and the WT-short promoter (not including the rs11200638 region) showed higher transcriptional activities than the others. A further quantitative analysis provided no evidence for significant change of mRNA expression between control and AMD retinas. This finding contrasts with the previous original experiment, which suggested an increase in HTRA1 expression in lymphocytes from AMD patients [90,127]. Taken together, these studies seem to draw a conflicting conclusion to those of the other studies in our meta-analysis.
Localization of the LOC387715/ARMS2 protein to the mitochondrial outer membrane in transfected mammalian cells suggests intriguing mechanisms through which an A69S change may influence AMD susceptibility. Mitochondria are implicated in the pathogenesis of other age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and so on [138]. Mitochondrial dysfunction associated with aging can result in impairment of the energy metabolism and homeostasis, generation of reactive oxygen species, accumulation of somatic mutations in mitochondrial DNA, and activation of the apoptotic pathway [139][140][141]. Decreased number and size of mitochondria, loss of cristae, or reduced matrix density are observed in AMD retinas compared with controls, and mitochondrial DNA deletions and cytochrome c oxidasedeficient cones accumulate in the aging retina, particularly in the macular region [140,142]. Moreover, mutations in mitochondrial proteins (e.g., dynamin-like guanosine triphosphatase [GTPase] optic atrophy 1 [OPA1]) are associated with optic neurodegenerative disorders [143]. Photoreceptors and RPE contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and are exposed to intense light and near-arterial levels of oxygen, providing considerable risk for oxidative damage [143,144]. Kanda and others therefore propose that the altered function of the putative mitochondrial protein LOC387715/ARMS2 by A69S substitution increases the susceptibility to the aging-associated generation of macular photoreceptors [95]. However, they did not observe any significant difference in the expression, stability, or localization of the A69S variant LOC387715/ARMS2 protein in mammalian cells. It is plausible that the A69S alteration modifies the function of the LOC387715/ARMS2 protein by affecting its conformation and/or interaction. For this reason, additional analysis of the LOC387715/ARMS2 protein with Ala or Ser codon 69 and its function in vivo are needed to better understand its contribution to AMD pathogenesis.
Even though the results presented here are contradictory, the A allele of the HTRA1 gene rs11200638 G→A polymorphism is reasonably common, with an allele frequency of over 30% in a control population and over 40% in an Asian control population, and the T allele frequency of the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism was 25.17% in a control population and 38.67% in Asians. This means that the effect at the population level, especially for Asian populations, could be quite important. The proportion of AA and AG genotypes of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism in a control population is 48% and the pooled OR for these two genotypes is 3.13. These two data were 64.07, 3.47 and 39.81, 3.07 for Asians and Caucasians, respectively. For the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism, the proportion of TT and GT genotypes in a control population is 38.89% and the pooled OR for these two genotypes is 3.05. These two data were 64.00, 3.17 and 35.40, 3.13 for Asians and Caucasians, respectively.
The PAR for the combined genotypes AA and AG of the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism is 56.0% (63.5% for Asians, 48.4% for Caucasians, 61.3% for wet AMD, 51.1% for combined AMD). The PAR for the combined genotypes TT and GT of LOC387715/ARMS2 gene rs10490924 G→T polymorphism is 47.9% (55.4% for Asians, 44.1% for Caucasians, 56.8% for wet AMD, 42.4% for combined AMD). In other words, the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism is involved in over half of all cases of AMD, quite close to the previous estimate of the first major AMD-susceptibility allele, CFH Y402H (58.9%) [79]. The LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism is also involved in nearly half of all AMD cases. Higher PAR can explain part of why both these genes (HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism and LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism) play important roles in AMD, especially for wet AMD populations.
In conclusion, this Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) systematic review presents strong evidence for an association between the HTRA1 rs11200638 G→A polymorphism, LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G→T polymorphism, and AMD, and suggests that both of these genes play important roles in this disease. Potential gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions and possible mechanisms of AMD are also summarized and discussed. Our findings suggest that these genetic variations may serve as biomarkers enabling the diagnosis of AMD in a more efficient and economical way. However, large-scale, long-term longitudinal studies are required to substantiate and strengthen this association.